Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart is refusing to budge an inch after critics bashed the retail giant for overpaying its executives while they mishandled a probe into charges that it systematically bribed officials in Mexico. Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) "misconstrues" Wal-Mart's executive compensation policies, the discounter said in a regulatory filing last Thursday. ISS based its analysis on information from CtW Investment Group, a union-backed group that's long opposed Wal-Mart, the filing charged. The Bentonville, Ark., retail giant said its pay practices are "intended to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our shareholders."

In one of his first public appearances as Wal-Mart's new CEO, Doug McMillon talked respectfully about its giant competitor Amazon.com, but explained why physical retail is here to stay. He also talked about how digital platforms and sales channels will become increasingly important to the retailer's business, including the need to improve its presence in digital media.

Wal-Mart Canada has confirmed it laid off hundreds of employees across the country earlier this month in a move to rework its management structure. The Arkansas-based retailer said it eliminated 750 jobs — which it says represented less than 1 percent of staff — after testing a new management structure in select stores. As part of the changes, Wal-Mart Canada says 1,300 associates were promoted to more senior roles and about 200 store managers were added.

Depending on how much faith you have in Wal-Mart's various anti-hacking security standards, the store's new credit card policy will either grant it greater protection from thieves who try using fraudulent credit cards, or make legitimate Wal-Mart customers suffer even worse the next time someone hacks into the right (wrong?) Wal-Mart database. If you

Wal-Mart's global e-commerce unit intends to hire hundreds of tech workers in a big expansion of its operations in Sunnyvale, Calif. "We're planning to expand to about 1,000 employees in Sunnyvale," said Bao Nguyen, a spokesman with Wal-Mart global e-commerce, whose operations are headquartered in San Bruno, Calif. At present, the e-commerce unit has about 550 employees in Sunnyvale.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it wouldn't oppose an increase in the federal minimum wage, its most explicit comment yet on the controversial debate to move past the $7.25-an-hour minimum. "We're not opposed to minimum wage increase, unless it's directed exclusively at us," said Wal-Mart U.S. President Bill Simon, referring to an attempt by the District of Columbia city council to require big retailers to pay starting wages that are higher than Washington's minimum wage.

No. 1 on the list of chores the Internet has done away with: dragging yourself to the store to stock up on unwieldy items and carting them home. Many e-commerce companies - led by Amazon.com and the sites it owns, like Diapers.com and Soap.com — have made it easy t

I'm here to say that the reason for Sears’ 78 percent stock price plunge from its peak in April 2007 — and associated tattered financials that are putting it incrementally into the grave — is the outcome of a culture of losing. This attitude emanates from the top brass and permeates the entire organization, resulting in customer needs not being satisfied. In turn, that's led to material market share being gobbled up by the likes of Wal-Mart, Target and, of course, Amazon.com. 

For retailers, the mobile-wielding millennial shopper can be viewed with worry and despair, or as an opportunity to improve in-store engagement and conversions through mobile merchandising. Activating a mobile merchandising strategy to connect with smartphone-equipped shoppers can actually encourage them to interact within your retail environment via their smartphones. Enabling mobile consumers is a lot more productive in driving in-store conversions than ignoring this shift in consumer behavior. Here are three insights for retailers to improve in-store conversions using mobile merchandising:

Wal-Mart has unveiled a new store-to-store money transfer service launching later this month, aimed at helping its customers send cash to loved ones and directly competing with outfits like Western Union. The new service will also compete with Wal-Mart's current in-store money transfer service, operated by MoneyGram, fueling speculation over the future of its contract. "Walmart-2-Walmart" will be operated by Ria Financial Services, a subsidiary of electronic payments company Euronet. It'll allow shoppers to transfer money to and from 4,000 Wal-Mart stores nationwide for up to 50 percent less than competitors, according to research by the retailer.